New London police arrest 3 after brief car chase

Izaskun E. Larrañeta

New London — Police arrested three New London men Wednesday on numerous criminal charges after a brief motor vehicle pursuit.

Police said at about 4:56 p.m. members of the city's vice investigative services and narcotics section were conducting a narcotics investigation in the city when officers attempted to stop a suspect vehicle.

The car did not stop and fled towards Waterford and then back into New London. Police said during the brief pursuit drugs were thrown from the vehicle in the area of Willetts and Soundview avenues in Waterford.

The car was stopped in the area of Bank and Beckwith streets in New London. A Groton Town narcotics detection K-9 along with members of the state Parole Department assisted in the investigation.

Police said they were able to retrieve the narcotics. They seized 29.2 grams of cocaine, 12.2 grams of heroin along with a small amount of marijuana. Police also found $875.

Police charged with Carlos Vazquez, 26, of 254 Ocean Ave., New London and Andre Strong, 33, homeless from New London, each with two counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell and tampering with evidence.

Vazquez was also charged with refusal to be fingerprinted. He was held on a parole violation and taken to the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville.

Strong was charged with criminal impersonation and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Marvin Jones, of 22, of 158 Norwood Ave., was charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, engaging an officer in pursuit and criminal attempt to assault a police officer. He is also being held on a $100,000 bond.